Winter Fitness: Cycling, Burpees, and More!

January 19, 2018

Winter fitness should be a priority, not a chore! Find some fun exercises or modes of activity to keep fit all season long.

It’s been five weeks since I’ve done any running. On the one hand, what a bummer. On the other hand, it hasn’t been so bad since the weather has been so bitterly cold and snowy. If I’m being honest, I’m kinda relieved I don’t have to hem and haw about whether I’m going to run outside or not.

Since I’m sidelined and to keep up my winter fitness, I created the Burpees, Planks, and Push-Ups challenge. I knew I needed a way to hold myself accountable, and I know I keep mentioning it but I gotta tell you — it’s kicking my a$$! And in a really, really good way. Our group has been so supportive and encouraging, and the exercises are really starting to make me feel good and strong.

In addition to the challenge, I’ve been cycling, doing yoga (not as much as I should), and working on physical therapy exercises for my poor hammie. I may not be running, but I’m keeping busy!

Winter Fitness: Cycling, Burpees, and More!

1. Cycling isn’t so bad.

I never really “liked” cycling, but I think I’ve been doing it wrong. I don’t have a road bike so I always felt like an imposter and I honestly never felt like I got a good, solid workout in. I tried and I sweated, but nowhere close to how I would feel after a run.

I’ve recently started riding with a heart rate monitor and it’s been life-changing. My workouts are appropriately difficult, I’m sweating, and I’m sleeping soundly again. I’m not sure I’ll need the HR training when I’m back to running but it’s certainly been amazing on the bike!

2. Full body workouts (ahem, burpees) are amazing!

I’ve been sore in places I didn’t know could be sore — just from doing the BPP challenge! I’m planning on hosting another challenge in February so if you’re interested in joining us, stay tuned. I’m not entirely sure what the challenge will be just yet, but I’ve got something in the works.

3. PT exercises are hard.

Turns out my poor hammie needs some major TLC. I haven’t officially been to physical therapy yet (next Friday, yay!) but my doc and my chiro have given me a couple ideas of exercises to begin before I even get there. They’re hard exercises and I’m working areas I’ve never worked before, but I’ve been doing them diligently and I swear I can already feel an improvement. Is that even possible?

4. Yoga is even harder.

When push comes to shove, yoga is harder than cycling, burpees, and PT exercises combined. It might have something to do with the fact that I’m working hard doing other exercises so I’m fatigued before I even get to yoga. Or it could have something to do with being sore from those other exercises. And although yoga is hard, I’m going to keep doing it because I know it’s good for me. Plus sitting around reading text books is way less exciting.

5. Protein is important.

After all these workouts I’ve been doing, you better believe I’ve upped my protein game. My muscles need the extra nutritional love, and as it turns out, I don’t think I’ve been getting enough protein all along. I’ve been making a conscious effort to make sure I’m getting what my body needs and that includes adding egg whites to my post workout smoothies. Yes, you read that right. And yes, they are pasteurized. And yes, they DO make my smoothie richer and more delicious! What are these delicious egg whites I’m referring to? AllWhites 100% Liquid Egg Whites. They’ve been a game-changer for me and I’m working on a delicious recipe to share featuring AllWhites Egg Whites! Watch for it on Monday.

As you can see, although I’m sidelined from my sport of choice, I’ve been keeping very busy with other activities this winter. There was a time in my life I would have taken this opportunity to make an excuse and sit around and do nothing. Instead, I’m hoping to keep my winter fitness up so that when it’s time to get back to what I love (running), I’ll be strong and ready! (And admittedly, all the cross-training is doing me hella good.)

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39 Comments

You have definitely figured out how to stay active throughout your injury! I usually find that the cross training and PT becomes more time consuming than just running. You are going to be so strong when its time to get back out there!

PT is no joke although I actually kind of wish I could go to one on a regular basis. Weird, I know, but it bet it would be super helpful!

It always amazes me that body weight workouts can be so hard.

I did a barre type workout this work. It was so hard I thought I’d be sore for days, but oddly I wasn’t. And a challenge in another group to do 100 fire hydrants — everyone was complaining, but it didn’t bother me. I think all the shoveling is “helping”.

Your current situation is reminiscent of what my summer was like (well, except for the fact you didn’t have o camp out in a hospital for a week). I wasn’t doing all these ((dumb)) burpees, but I was doing planks and push-ups and mucho walking. Staying active not only kept me strong, it was a welcome distraction from my “sidelined runner” reality. Stay strong, Sister!

haha, I’m so not a fan of burpees, but agreed–they’re so good for you! x_x I really need to start doing more yoga again! Injuries suck butt, but it’s awesome that you’ve found so many other things to do in the meantime!

I started doing yoga for my stress levels, and I’ve kept it up because it’s a nice way to relax at the end of the day. I feel like I’m ready for sleep when I’m done, but I can’t just fall asleep in corpse pose.

I’m glad you are enjoying the cycling. Funny you mention the sleep thing. I sleep better when I cycle too. I do use a heart rate monitor. I got hooked when I was injured in 2015. It was the only way to know whether my pool running and my cycling was at an appropriate level of effort. Hang in there. You’ll be back on the road soon. Thanks for the linkup!

I’m on Day 18 of a yoga challenge. Like with running, I feel like yoga can be easy or hard – depending on how much you feel like pushing yourself. I’ve been trying to be very focused and conscious of my movements during this yoga challenge, going into the poses with more purpose. It’s been amazing.

I’m curious about your Feb challenge since I didn’t join in the BPP one.

This is the first winter since I started running (well no, when I first started, that fall I had my first foot operation so I didn’t run a lot that winter either) that I haven’t really run much. I haven’t really trained at all, but it IS my preferred activity. I’m just trying to prepare my body and my foot for training again. I want more than anything to run another marathon again and I hope it’s going to be this year. So I am doing other things, mostly spinning and other cardio and fitness at home (ahem, burpees). I used to use a HR monitor all the time and when I’m serious about training I do use one. Right now not so much. Depending on your Feb challenge I may join 🙂

Since I’m just now getting back in the swing of things, I haven’t been hardcore with burpees, cycling, etc. Burpees are definitely NOT my favorite. What you are doing is definitely challenging, so kudos to you!

You are definitely making all the right choices while your sidelined. I think when your hamstring is healed you’ll be an even stronger runner. I keep hoping that I will embrace the bike, but I just haven’t yet. Maybe one day. Looking forward to the February challenge!

You’ve certainly kept quite active while injured. Its never easy to think about what you can do that won’t irritate an injury but still allow you to stay active, but you’ve certainly succeeded. Way to go!

[…] person and I know for a fact I was nowhere near that number until very recently. Recognizing this, as I mentioned on Friday, I’m on a serious quest to add more protein to my diet. Instead of eating a […]